More than 253 Kentucky high school students from 23 schools participated in the 2019 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Fla.

During the conference students had the opportunity to attend leadership workshops, attend exhibits of schools and companies, and network with colleges, business professionals, judges and fellow students. DECA had its largest ICDC ever, with more than 22,000 students attending.

Kentucky students brought home many awards, with 93 of them receiving an Award of Excellence for achieving all standards of performance in the event in which they competed. Three students from the Grayson County Area Technical Center (ATC) – Josie McStoots, Abby Hayse and Dylan Geary – qualified for the finals in Financial Literacy Promotion Project. Luke Hutcherson from the Jessamine County Career and Technical Center won a medal for Quick Serve Restaurant Management, being a top performer in Role Play.

Dalton Green of the Green County ATC, Kentucky’s past DECA state officer, was elected as central region vice president. Green will serve the region on the national level, attend state conferences, communicate to associations, teach workshops and perform his duties at next year’s ICDC in Nashville. He has been a member of Kentucky DECA since the 8th grade and has served in many different capacities.

“Dalton is not the ordinary. I knew that when he joined and made it to National DECA his 8th grade year. I am very honored and humble because I have learned as much from him as he has from me,” said his local DECA adviser Sandy Smith. “Dalton is DECA, he is everything that DECA represents.” 

“Kentucky DECA had an outstanding delegation and received several awards and compliments at the international level. This shows how Kentucky is on the right track preparing our students for the future,” said Kentucky DECA State Adviser Leslie Bullock.

Bullock took on the role as state adviser in mid-January and this was her first ICDC.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. For more information about Kentucky DECA visit its website or any of its social media platforms.